Operator for flag signal



p 1951 M. J. YODER OPERATOR FOR FLAG SIGNAL Filed May 16, 1949 INVENTOR.

ATTORNEY Patented Sept. 11, 1951 UNITED STATES PATENT owner;-

OPERATOR FOR FLAG SIGNAL Moses J. Yoder, Hutchinson, Kans.

Application May 16, 1949, Serial No. 93,449

The invention disclosed herein, in its preferred exemplification, is directed to an improved operating unit for a signal of the class which is adapted for use in connection with rural mail boxes and includes as an object of the invention means for automatically actuating the signal when the door of the mail box is opened.

Another object of the invention resides in the provision of a flag signal operator of comparatively simple construction thereby affording the production of same at low cost and sale of same at a comparatively low price.

Still another object of the invention is found in the provision of a flag signal operating unit which readily may be applied by the purchaser to various types of mail boxes now in rural use without the use of any special tools. I

With the above and other objects in view, m invention consists in the novel combination, construction and arrangement of the parts and members shown in preferred embodiment in the attached drawing, described in the following specification and particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

Referring to the drawing:

Figure 1 is a side elevation of a mail box showing my improved flag signal operator.

Figure 2 is a front elevation of the mail box and signal operator shown in Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a partial side elevation of the front end of the mail box shown in Figure 1 but showing the signal operator automatically turned with the flag disposed transversely to the longitudinal axis of the mail box after the mail box door has been opened.

Figure 4 is an enlarged cross-section of the signal operating mechanism taken on line 4-4 of Figure 1.

Figure 5 is an enlarged cross-section of the signal operating mechanism taken on line 5--5 of Figure 3.

Figure 6 is a still further enlarged vertical section taken on line 66 of Figure 5 showing the support for the flagstaff, the actuating spring therefor and the releasable retainer.

As illustrated in the drawing, the mail box Ill is fabricated from sheet metal and consists of a bottom plate I I, a single plate I2 forming the top and opposite sides of the box, a rear closure plate I3, and a front door I4.

The door I4 as shown is formed with flanged edges I4 which closely embrace the top and side wall portions of box and is hinged, as at I5, to the bottom plate II.

The flag I6, preferably made of a suitable ma- Z-Claims. (o1. 232 35) numeral I8 is provided for supporting the flagstaff or rod I! on oneside of the box I0 near the door I4. The bracket I8 preferably consists of a flat elongated metallic bar portion I8 disposed vertically and provided with end portions 18 bent outwardly at a right-angle and constituting perforated ears through the perforations of which the rod I'I extends.

The bracket I8 is adapted to be rigidly se cured in place on and to the side of the box in any suitable manner as, for example, by flatheaded screws 2|.

The flagstafi II extends through the perforations in the ears I8? and is rotatably carried therein; the lower end of the rod ;I'I extending a suitable distance below the bottom face of the lower one of the ears I8 to receive thereabout a helical spring I9; however, any other suitable spring may be used.

One end I9 of the spring I9 extends through a perforation in the lower end of the red I! and the opposite end I9 of the spring I9 is adapted to engage the outer side wall of the box l0.

Secured to the flagstafl II, in any suitable manner as, for example, by welding, is a retainer generally designated by numeral 20.

The retainer 20 is angular in shape and is fashioned from a flat, narrow, metallic bar. It is preferably of right-angular form and is secured to the cylindrical bar I'I just above the upper face of the upper ear I8 and supports the flagstaff I 1 on the upper ear I8 One leg 20 of the retainer 20 is preferably beveled, as at 20, for engagement Within the crimped portion I4 of the flange I4 of the door I4 as shown more clearly in Figure 4, the other leg 20 is adapted to function as a stop when the latter comes into engagement with the side of the mail box I 0 as shown in Figure 5.

When the flag signal I6 is rotated into the position shown in Figures 1, 2 and 4 the rotation of the fiagstafi I! will wind up the spring I9 so that when the retainer is released, the flagstaif will be rotated to the position shown in Figures 3, 5 and 6, however, when the door I4 is closed while the flag signal I6 is held in the position shown in Figures 1, 2 and 4, the leg 20 of the retainer 20 will be engaged within the crimped portion I4 of the door flange I4 to thus retain the flag signal I6 in the position shown in Figures 3 1, 2 and 4, in parallel alignment with the longitudinal axis of the mail box II].

It is obvious that if the door handle I4 is grasped in hand and the door I4 is opened, as shown in Figures 3 and 5, the retainer will be released and the spring l9 will simultaneously cause an automatic rotation of the flag signal to the position shown in Figures 3, 5 and 6 wherein the flag signal I6 is disposed transversely to the longitudinal axis of themail box I0.

I claim:

1. An operating unit for a flag signal comprising a vertically disposed rotatable cylindrical ro'd' carrying said flag at its upper end portion, astationary U-shaped bracket for said rod secured to a stationary support comprising a'verticall'y disposed elongated fiat bar having its opposite ends thereof bent right-angularly outwardly to constitute perforated ears, said flag-carrying rod-extending through and being rotatable in the perforations of said ears and a lower' end porden: of; said rod extending beyond the' bottom faceof the lower one of said ears through the convolutions of a helical spring carried on said lower end portion of said rod, one end of said spring extending through anopening in said rodand theother endof said spring engaging said stationarysupport;, and. aright-angularly bent L-shaped' signal retainer secured to said rod and arranged to support said rod on the upper face of th'e'upper one of said ears; said fla and rod being rotatable against the resistance of: said spring to position said fia'giin parallel alignment with the: longitudiiralt axis of the: mail box to thereby-ten'sionsaid spring and present one leg of" said retainer" int'o position for engagement by a manually movable element on said support, the other legof said retainer adapted to functi'on as a stop to position said flag transversely to said selected position when said element is manually moved and said first-mentioned leg is released therefrom to permit said spring to rotate said rod to thereby cause said other leg to engage said stationary support and thereby retain said flag in said transverse position.

2. An operating unit for a flag signal comprising a rotatable rod carrying said flag, a stationary bracket for said rod secured to a stationary support comprising spaced vertically aligned perforated ears, said flag-carrying rod extending through both of said ears and being rotatable therein, a spring adapted to actuate said rod, and an angularly bent L-shaped retainer fixed to said rod, saidtflag: and rod being rotatable as a unit against the resistance of said spring to position said flag in' a selected position and present one leg. of said retainer into position for retainment by a manually movable element, the other leg of said retainer adapted to function as a stop to position said flag transversely to said selected position when said element is manually moved and said first-mentioned leg is released therefrom to permit said-:springto rotate said rodto-therebycause said other leg to engage a stationary support and thereby retain said flag in said transverse position;

MOSES J. YODER.

REFERENCES CITED The following referencesare of record in the file of this patent:

UNI-TED STATES PATENTS Number Y Name- Date 1,564,305 Fanders Dec. 8, 1925 1,628,034 De Mier May 10, 1927 1,814,941 Lutz July 14, 1931 2';356,'02'0 Westerfi'eld' Aug. 15, 1944 

